Help, please. Need a French word.

[ChooksChick]

Someone on here is fluent in French- can't remember who- search fr the word French, perhaps? Maybe search Francophile?

Babelfish works, but it's so literal, it's usually words and phrases that sound like Yoda to the person who speaks that language. Can make sense, but it's not a natural use of that language. 'Bathroom in use' may sound like, 'Use of bathroom in having."

It may come out sounding like "Possessed" if you don't use the right word...

 

[FrenchHen]

JennsPeeps also speaks French.

 

[ChooksChick]

Oh, sure! Everyone post while I'm typing...and watching TV, so it took a while!

 

[elmo]

No foul language - even in French!

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
My daughters are both en pointe in ballet and occasionally before the dancers go onstage, someone will tell them, "Break a leg" which you NEVER wish a dancer- you tell them, No foul language, even in French!

It sounds funny when the younger dancers tell each other...but it's tradition, even for a 6 year old!

 

[JennsPeeps]

I'm with FrenchHen - don't trust babelfish! I use it from time to time when I forget a word or to verify what I thought a word was, but I never use it for phrases or sentences. It's invariably w-r-o-n-g.

I did a search on google.fr (the French google) for bathroom signs & came across this one:

( libre - occupé )
I think that because it's a general term - vacant/occupied - for the space, it doesn't need to have the agreement.

Try running a phrase in English through babelfish to French (or any other language) then back to English. That'll give you a sense of what it would sound like from the other end. Example:
How long until the bus gets here? --> Combien de temps jusqu'à l'autobus obtient ici ? --> How long jusqu' with l' does bus obtain here?

 

[JennsPeeps]

It's totally true that you say the vulgar equivalent of "poop" in French to wish someone good luck for a test or performance. Funny, huh?

 

[FrenchHen]

Thanks JennsPeeps! Every so often I come across a phrase or context that I've never before encountered. I appreciate your work!
I won't forget this one.

 

[Sallyschickens]

Reinbeau, you speak French too?!

I think that your idea is soo cute!

Love those signs JennsPeeps, are they yours or are they from google?

 

[country lady]

Funny posts! I didn't expect French bathroom humor or decorating a bathroom door to be so funny. Thanks, Ladies, I knew I came to the right place.